Rocking Chair and Anti-Skid Base

ABSTRACT

Longitudinal and rotational movement of a rocking chair during the rocking motion is substantially prevented with a rocking chair having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending rockers that converge at a first angle. A base is provided having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending channels that converge at a second angle at least approximately the same as the first angle. The channels are positioned to underlie the rockers as the rocking chair is rocked. The transverse width of each channel is sufficiently wider than the transverse width of the respective rocker to accommodate the rocker within the channel during rocking motion of the chair, and is sufficiently narrower than the transverse width of the respective rocker to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the rockers within the channels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to rocking chairs and, more particularly, to rocking chairs having rockers which contact channels or tracks in a base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rocking chairs are typically susceptible to longitudinal and rotational movement during use. (As used herein, the term “longitudinal” will be used to mean the direction in which the chair is facing and, hence, the direction in which rocking takes place.) The movement is most noticeable, and annoying, when the user's feet are placed on a foot stool or other elevated object for comfort, and the chair is found to move toward and/or away from the object and/or to rotate away from that object after a few oscillations. This is particularly true on rugs and carpeting but also happens on non-carpeted surfaces, particularly such as hardwood floors. The result is that the user cannot comfortably rock for very long without repeatedly adjusting the chair's position or electing to forego the comfort of elevated feet.

Although the sources of such longitudinal and rotational movement are not fully understood, the movement appears to arise from several sources. One source of movement appears to be the minimal surface contact made between the chair's rockers and the floor at any instant of time, resulting in minimum anti-skid friction. A second source of movement appears to be the user's body mechanics in that it appears that there is a rotational component to the rocking-inducing force, either owing to one side of the user's body being stronger than the other or to some non-symmetry in the person's body. Thirdly, it appears that the nap of the carpet applies a force against the rockers of the chair that tends to produce a displacing movement of the chair during the rocking movement, typically laterally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein is directed to preventing substantial movement of the rocking chair during the rocking motion. In accordance with the invention, a rocking chair is utilized having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending rockers that converge at a first angle. A base is provided having a pair of transversely-spaced generally longitudinally extending channels that converge at a second angle at least approximately the same as the first angle. The channels are positioned to underlie the rockers as the rocking chair is rocked. The transverse width of each channel is sufficiently wider than the transverse width of the respective rocker to accommodate the rocker within the channel during rocking motion of the chair, and is sufficiently narrower than the transverse width of the respective rocker to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the rockers within the channels.

Another aspect of this invention is a non-skid base for use with a rocking chair having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally, extending rockers that converge at a first angle. The base comprises a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending channels that converge at a second angle at least approximately the same as the first angle, said channels underlying the rockers as the rocking chair is rocked. The transverse width of each channel is sufficiently wider than the transverse width of the respective rocker to accommodate the rocker within the channel during rocking motion of the chair, but sufficiently narrow to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the rockers within the channels.

These and other details concerning the invention will be described in greater detail below in the Description of the Preferred Embodiment, of which the Drawing is a part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a rocking chair and base constructed n accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a base constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the rocking chair and base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view in schematic of the pair of the rockers 10, 12 within the respective channels 14, 16 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rocking chair and non-skid base constricted in accordance with the invention. FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the rocking chair and base of FIG. 1. As illustrated in these Figures, the rocking chair has a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending rockers 10, 12 that each extend from a front end 10 a, 12 a to a rear end 10 b, 12 b, with an arced bottom surface 10 e, 12 e that supports the chair for rocking movement in the conventional manner.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the rockers 10, 12 converge at a first angle θ₁ towards the rear of the chair. Each rocker of the preferred embodiment forms an angle of approximately 5° with the longitudinal axis 18 passing centrally between the rockers, wherein the term “longitudinal” is used to denote the direction in which the rocking chair faces, and the axis extends centrally between the rockers. Accordingly, the rockers mutually converge at an angle θ₁ of approximately 10°. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other angles of convergence can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the rockers need not converge at the same angle with the longitudinal axis, although they typically do. The rockers can also converse towards the front of the chair instead of the rear. All of these variations are within the scope of the invention.

As illustrated best in FIG. 3, the specific rockers employed in this embodiment have the following dimensions:

Length (measured along its curved bottom surface 12 e): 35¾ inches

Width (W_(R)): 2 inches

Front end separation (S_(F)) measured between facing sidewalls: 20 inches

Back end separation (S_(B)) measured between facing sidewalls: 14 inches

The base 13 is best illustrated in the top perspective view of FIG. 2. The base comprises a pair of transversely-spaced, gene rally longitudinally extending channels 14, 16 that respectively converge rearwardly at a second angle θ₂ (see FIG. 5) that is preferably approximately the same as the first angle θ₁ so that the each channel is under, and aligned with, a respective rocker as the chair is rocked.

As illustrated in FIG. 2. each channel is preferably formed between a respective pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending side walls 18 that are preferably lined with a soft non-scratching material 20 such as felt or other suitable substance. The bottom interior surface 22 of each channel supports the floor-facing bottom surface of a respective rocker.

The width of each channel is slightly larger than the width of the accommodated rocker. In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, the dimensions of the base (as illustrated in FIG. 4) are:

Length of channel (L_(C)): 22½ inches

Width of channel (W_(C)): 2⅜ inches

Width of base at front (W_(F)): 23½ inches (measured between interiors of outer sidewalls)

Width of base at rear (W_(R)): 19¼ inches (measured between interiors of outer sidewalls)

The transverse width W_(C) of each channel is sufficiently wider than the transverse width W_(R) of the respectively accommodated rocker to accommodate the rocker within the channel during rocking motion of the chair without binding the rocker during desirable rocking movement in the longitudinal direction, but is sufficiently narrow to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the rockers within the channels, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the pair of rockers 10, 12 within the respective channels 14, 16. Each rocker is substantially aligned with the respective channel at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis 18. If the chair moves longitudinally forward, the rockers move longitudinally forward within the channels, causing the inward-facing sides of the rockers at 22, 24 to contact the inner sidewalls of the channels at 23, 25 respectively. This prevents further forward longitudinal movement of the chair. The chair can, however, continue to rock since each rocker and its respective channel remain aligned.

Similarly, backward longitudinal movement of the chair is limited. If the chair moves backward, the rockers move backward within the channels, causing the outward-facing sides of the rockers at 26, 28 to contact the inside surface of the channels' outer sidewalls at 27, 29 respectively and prevent further movement.

As evident from FIG. 5, the amount of longitudinal movement permitted depends, as a matter of geometry, on the difference between the channel width and rocker width, and/or on the angles θ₁, θ₂ between the rockers and channels and the longitudinal axis. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the width difference must be sufficient to permit rocking without causing undesirable interference between the rocker and channel sidewalls, while the angle from longitudinal must take the chair's dimensions and proper rocking movement into account.

By the same token, rotational movement of the chair within the channels is very limited, since the width difference between each rocker and its respective channel is too small to permit significant rotational movement within the channel before the rocker contacts the sidewall of the channel.

To help prevent longitudinal or rotational movement of the base on the floor, the bottom surface of the base is preferably coated with a non-skid material. One suitable material has been found to be an adhesive-backed high-strength neoprene rubber having the same width as (or a bit less than) the floor-contacting surfaces of the base, a ⅙ inch thickness, and a durometer of 30A. This material is preferred because in addition to presenting a skid-resistant surface to tile floor, it tends not to damage tile floor's surface.

Because the full weight of the user, chair and base is distributed over the entire bottom surface of the base, the contact surface area with the floor is much greater than the contact surface area between the rockers alone and the floor. Consequently, there is virtually no tendency of the base to move longitudinally or rotationally on the floor, particularly when non-skid material is added as described above.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is accordingly intended that the invention herein be defined by the claims appended hereto, and that the claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art, giving all due regard to the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. In combination: a rocking chair having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending rockers that converge at a first angle: a base having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending channels that converge at a second angle at least approximately the same as the first angle, and positioned to underlie the rockers as the rocking chair is rocked, the transverse width of each channel being sufficiently wider than the transverse width of the respective rocker to accommodate the rocker within the channel during rocking motion of the chair, the transverse width of each channel being sufficiently narrow to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the rockers within the channels.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the interior of the channels each have a thin layer of padding to substantially prevent the scratching of the rockers.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the base has a floor-contacting bottom surface, and further including a layer of non-skid material on at least a portion of the bottom surface.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first angle is approximately 10°.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second angle is approximately 10°.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the transverse width of each channel is sufficiently narrow to prevent substantial rotational movement of the rockers within the channels.
 7. A non-skid base for use with a rocking chair having a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending rockers that converge at a first angle, said base comprising: a pair of transversely-spaced, generally longitudinally extending channels that converge at a second angle at least approximately the same as the first angle, said channels underlying the rockers as the rocking chair is rocked, the transverse width of each channel being sufficiently wider than the transverse width of the respective rocker to accommodate the rocker within the channel during rocking motion of the chair, the transverse width of each channel being sufficiently narrow to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the rockers within the channels.
 8. The base of claim 7 wherein the interior of the channels each have a thin layer of padding to substantially prevent the scratching of the rockers.
 9. The base of claim 7 wherein the base has a floor-contacting bottom surface, and further including a layer of non-skid material on at least a portion of the bottom surface.
 10. The base of claim 7 wherein the first angle is approximately 10°.
 11. The base of claim 7 wherein the second angle is approximately 10°.
 12. The base of claim 7 wherein the transverse width of each channel is sufficiently narrow to prevent substantial rotational movement of the rockers within the channels. 